Best places to buy and brands of Pepper Spray in Toronto?

All the security problems in Toronto got me thinking it's time to stock up on some Pepper Spray so I can be sure to kick some butt if the need arises. Actually I've been in situations before with drug addicts accosting me on the street where it would have been very useful to have some.

I've never bought any before.

So, my questions are:

1. Where is the best place in Toronto to buy Pepper Spray?

2. What is the best brand of Pepper Spray to buy? Ie: one that won't fail, sprays really far, kicks a lot of butt etc. etc.

3. Is Pepper Spray the best legal item to carry around for butt-kicking potential in case there is a threat to one's personal security, or are there better alternatives? PS: Don't say "nothing" or "don't get into bad situations" because sometimes that's unavoidable, like when drug addicts accost you on the street just because you are there.

I don't wanna use an extendo due to the potential it has to be taken away from me, and used against me. I'm willing to take that risk with Pepper Spray, though.

I did a search and came up with pepperspray.ca and they sell one to use against bears, and say don't use it against humans. Is it illegal to use that against humans? Because I don't mind using it if it's legal. They say it may constitute an assault though on the website.

Does the legality of it change due to the type of Pepper Spray it is? Ie: If I used lower grade Pepper Spray, would that not be an assault just because it's lower grade? Or does it not matter how high the grade is, and if it's assault or not depends 100% on the circumstances?

I know absolutely nothing about this stuff, which is why I made this thread to learn everything I need to know and the best option to use.

Ebola, what would you recommend as the most effective, legal personal protection item? Like say I'm walking at Queen and Bathurst and a very hostile crackhead accosts me for no reason and starts invading my personal space and won't get out of it, and is making me feel like my personal safety is in immediate extreme jeopardy (this has actually happened to me before). What is the best thing to do in this situation? In my mind it seems like without Pepper Spray then the only thing I have left is fisticuffs, which seems a lot more dangerous.

But in the end... its up to the judge to decide.
Eg... a crazy guy stabs a woman. You take out a gun and shoot him. the force may seem unreasonable b/c gun>knife... but the crazy guy was an immediate danger to someones life.

When I'm doing more web searching as a result of the replies I'm getting in this thread, the web seems to be saying that while what you said is correct Ebola, the exceptions are pepper sprays that are designed for use on animals. The web consensus seems to be that these forms or pepper spray are legal to carry, but simply not legal to use on humans. Is that right?

If so would it not be wise to carry it and only use it on humans in extreme situations? Might be worth it if it can save my life. Being forced to rely on fisticuffs doesn't seem like a very safe or wise option.

When I'm doing more web searching as a result of the replies I'm getting in this thread, the web seems to be saying that while what you said is correct Ebola, the exceptions are pepper sprays that are designed for use on animals. The web consensus seems to be that these forms or pepper spray are legal to carry, but simply not legal to use on humans. Is that right?

If so would it not be wise to carry it and only use it on humans in extreme situations? Might be worth it if it can save my life. Being forced to rely on fisticuffs doesn't seem like a very safe or wise option.

First of all, you made my day by using "fisticuffs" multiple times.

Secondly, you can buy it for use against animals, again it is almost sold exclusively as "BEAR SPRAY" or "Dog Spray".

Now it doesn't matter if you bought "BEAR SPRAY" legally, if you live in Toronto you can not go walking around the TTC with a can of bear spray on your belt. It doesn't work like that.

There has to be a reasonable factor, as with everything. If you are going hunting in Northern Quebec, you can have it. If you are riding the subway, no.

As soon as you use it anyway for 'self-defence' you going to be in trouble, because it is not to be used on humans, you are not supposed to be walking around with it, so you might end up with charges, and at minimum a lawsuit.